I have been teaching my son, we shall call him “Little Rambling Motorist”, to drive on private land for a little while now, and he has been driving my Octavia Scout 4×4 with a six speed manual gearbox. One of the practical problems is a mechanical one to do with their young legs. Are their legs long enough and muscular enough to depress the clutch fully. Until this is so, then they shouldn’t drive because they would not be in full control of the vehicle.
Mental Attitude
Additionally, are they mature enough to take the responsibility seriously. Driving a car is far more complex than a go kart, and even though Little Rambling Motorist has done karting in the past, I sat him down for some “ground school”, in order to get some firm concepts of car control and safety in place and also determine if I felt he was ready.
Ultimately, I would be responsible for his welfare in the car, both when I am with him, and when he would be solo, when no one is in with him, but still under my command.
In Little Rambling Motorist final year at primary school, he wanted to walk himself to and from school, and initially the school was hesitant, but, they realised in his last year, his attitude to life was really grown up, and he was awarded the schools house Captains badge. The additional gold star was awarded for continued excellence. So, for the last year, he walked himself to and from school as was his wish.
Now that Little Rambling Motorist was aged 11, (but still in primary school), he also transitioned from Cubs to Scouts. So, I would be teaching a Scout in a Scout.
Driving Lessons
Teaching him in a powerful Octavia Scout was easier than I initial thought it would be, because of all the driver aids, even in the Mk1 Scout. I noticed the engine helps you with the clutch, a sort of “anti stall” function which gave him the confidence that he can drive the car without constantly stalling.
We quickly moved on to basic car control, turning, and performing an emergency stop. He excelled at everything I was teaching him, and he had a genuine flare for motoring. Unfortunately he would have to wait another six years before he would be allowed to become a fully fledged Rambling Motorist.
He could start the car, set off, even on sloping ground, change gear, position himself well, come to a stop, secure the car with the handbrake and into neutral, and turn off the engine. I even practiced emergency stops with him.
So after a few lessons, of this repeated cycle, I decided to allow him to drive the car with me giving commands from outside. He was confident, and I am glad I allowed him because it gave me a firm understanding of his abilities.
Assisting Me
The gear selector in the VW T4 Transporter packed up, a common fault on VW T4’s, and I was unable to select reverse. I had parked the van in the barn and I was unable to get at the gearbox without reversing the van. So, I needed a second car and driver in order to pull the van back out of the barn. Little Rambling Motorist came to the rescue in the Octavia Scout, of course he would.
As a thank you for his recovery breakdown help, I treated him to a McDonalds Happy Meal.
Mark Smith
“The Rambling Motorist“